Chronic lead exposure of rats: open-field performance

Three groups of male hooded rats were chronically exposed to lead in the acetate form prenatally, as well as postnatally via the dam's milk and in the drinking water, at concentrations of 0 ppm, 19 ppm, and 38 ppm for 35 days. No significant differences were found in weight gain, although significant increases in food consumption were noted in animals receiving 19 ppm lead acetate and increased ingestion of lead acetate in animals receiving 19 ppm and 38 ppm. When subjects were tested in an open-field task, no significant differences were found in emotionality, the number of squares traversed, frequency and duration of rearing, or in frequency of grooming. However, subjects receiving 38 ppm lead displayed a significant reduction in duration of grooming when compared to animals receiving either 19 ppm or 0 ppm. The results suggest that prenatal lead exposure, followed by postnatal exposure, may affect some elements of activity, while having little effect on others.